Lower Life Expectancy

[Colt]

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/550715_3

However, Kaplan–Meier analysis of age at death of these patients shows that patients diagnosed under 20 years have a median age at death of 64 years (inter-quartile range 59–70 years), whilst those patients diagnosed over the age of 20 years do not experience reduced life expectancy.

Normal life expectancy is 78.15 years.

Do you think about this?

 

[Isla]

No, why would I (even if I was diagnosed before 20.) Thats like going OMG planes crash, so I will never get on a plane and cars crash so won't go in those either. Then pedestrians get killed so I can't walk out of my house. Oh then there is a risk of using gas appliances so I can't do that. Oh and there is risk of slipping in the shower, guess I won't take those.

I will die of something at some point - from what and when I have no control over. So I could choose to focus on death and worry about all my nominal risks (as is the risk you stated) and then I think one would have severe anxiety or depression issues. Or I could focus on all the things I am grateful for in my life TODAY and hope that I wake to see another day.

 

[mommy1st]

Living life to the fullest is key now Don't dwell on something that you can't control. I think that our attitude about life has alot to do with it and if you think oh I'm going to die by the time I'm 64 and dwell and dwell and dwell. Then guess what you probably will. For me I plan to live a very long happy life. Yes I have Crohns but I have alot of other things going for me too. I also plan to be around for when my kids have kids and so on. I guess I'm just a happy person in love with life inspite of the cards I have been dealt.

 

[Jeff D.]

I don't care if I live a shorter life. I don't want to be 78 years old anyways. Plus life expectancy for when I'm about that old will be around 100. I don't worry about my death because there is no point to life when all you do is live in fear all the time. Live life all ye people.

 

[amor151]

I don't care if I live a shorter life. I don't want to be 78 years old anyways. Plus life expectancy for when I'm about that old will be around 100. I don't worry about my death because there is no point to life when all you do is live in fear all the time. Live life all ye people.

well said Jeff D, i couldn't agree with you more!

 

[katiesue1506]

When I see studies, I ALWAYS question them... maybe its my curious nature... but I have done that with this study. The most notable thing is the fact that the people who were studied were diagnosed between 1934 and 1984. My problem with this is that back then, the only treatment for Crohn's Disease was steroids. Nobody understood Crohn's Disease and almost EVERYBODY ate very poorly. It was a meat and potato age... cakes and cookies were household staples and bread was everywhere. This means that people not only didn't understand why they were suffering, they didn't know how to fix it. A lifetime of pain and suffering and not knowing why would surely bring people down... maybe towards depression. Some people died early because of unperfected surgery techniques and even random complications such as starving to death. Those things just don't happen these days. We have more treatments, we know why we are in pain, we have a whole wealth of information that we can study. We are in the age at which we can somewhat take our health into our own hands through diet, exercise, peace of mind, and general positive attitudes.

Maybe I'll die at 64, but at least I know I'll have been happy instead of dwelling on it.

 

[Isla]

Great points Katiesue - that seems like a logical interpretation of possible inaccuracies for today's standards.

 

[Creepy Lurker]

I fully expect Crohn's to be curable by the time I'm that age anyway. Not something I'll worry about.

 

[Isla]

Really, I don't expect a cure by then.

 

[Colt]

I don't expect a cure either. Good treatments that can put it in remission, sure, but not a cure.

 

[BWS1982]

We are in the age at which we can somewhat take our health into our own hands through diet, exercise, peace of mind, and general positive attitudes.

This portion is why I believe I can control my death, TO AN EXTENT, meaning I can have a very influential pull on things. Thus, I worry a bit about it. I don't count the days, and yes I'm an anxious, depressed, overanalytical creature by default, but I sure as hell feel it's not something that is spiritually decided in "my file" somewhere due to fate and other powers that be. I'm going to push to live a longer and happier life (that second part I feel is my biggest challenge).

I also don't understand the part where people detest the concept of perpetual existence, upwards of 80 and over....why do you "not want to live that long"? Probably because you see 80 year olds and they're on the cusp of leaving this world from issues, age is not so structured IMO....ever hear of those stories of the 95 year olds who go on a half mile walk every day, play with their dogs, have minimal health issues, play chess in the park, play with great-grandkids, go play a light sport, then go home and get romantic with a spouse after a 16 hour day? They're out there, and they pushed on that long most likely by treating their bodies well (possibly genetics too)...so, they live like they're 55, not 95, and this to me is evidence that I want to live long into my potential, at least to 3 digits (that sounds like I could push to 4 digits if I try hard doesn't it ). I feel it's like any other piece of equipement, don't clean it, fuel it, and treat it right, it will age accordingly. And, I am of the utmost certainty that I can "treat it right" AND HAVE A BLAST DOING IT, so I will not drag on like a boring opera as opposed to a fast action movie. I want to be great, and leave my mark doing it, simple as that. That's why I'm still quite devastated at my diagnosis and ongoing troubles.

 

[Agent X20]

Oh! Heck! I've only got 12 years left!

Where I live I seem to see a lot of people who are obese, living on a diet of protein, fat and sugar, smoking 40 a day and chugging down 8 pints of beer every night. Some of them are 20-30 years younger than me, but I wouldn't like to put odds on them outlasting me.

Anyway... once your number's up, it's time to ship out, and you never quite know when... that's what makes being a human being so...erm... interesting, in my opinion.

 

[teeny5]

There are many stories of people who smoked like chimneys all their lives and didn't eat healthy and lived long...course there are the opposite stories too. Anyway, I think you can't dwell on it cuz you just don't know. Your time to go will come and better for it to be unexpected I think so you aren't able to countdown to it...that would make me crazy!

 

[merrywidow]

live life to the full, but make sure you let people know your wishes, i have paid for myself and my sons funeral and have left instructions for us to be organ doners (if we can be) ,i have instructions in my will, if i die before my son is independant, who will look after him.
this is just being practical, not morbid.
regards sharon x